The US on Monday pitched for greater access to the Indian markets, especially the financial sector, and further improvement in intellectual property provisions for enhanced two-way trade and investment flows.

“The US has long sought greater access to the Indian market in the financial services and goods and services market and number of areas in which there are no differences,” US Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk told reporters here. Kirk, who is here for the 6th ministerial-level meeting on US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF), met commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma.

Later, Sharma said the two sides deliberated on various issues of economic engagement for facilitating enhanced investment including the agreements on intellectual property rights, traditional knowledge digital diary and framework agreement of cooperation in trade and industry.

“IPR is a serious issue. Indian industry wants a strong IPR policy. This agreement will provide comfort,” he said adding that these agreements will be signed soon. Kirk and Sharma also discussed ways to improve trade and investment in infrastructure, healthcare, education, information technology and energy.